Plans to open a vast area of the Arctic seabed to mining will cause “irreversible harm” to unique and vulnerable wildlife and habitats, Greenpeace International has warned.
The environmental group is urging Norway, which is planning to licence mining companies to explore for seabed minerals for use in technology such as batteries and electronics, to halt its plans and support a moratorium on seabed mining as other countries have done.
The call comes as Greenpeace publishes a report on the biodiversity found deep in the ocean.
The report says the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge, where there are plans to explore and in the future mine for cobalt, copper, nickel and rare earth metals, is made up of a diverse mix of seamounts, ridges, canyons and hydrothermal vents that are 1,000-4,000 metres deep.
In the deep sea darkness, there is a “remarkably diverse” marine life, which is slow to grow and reproduce, making it highly vulnerable to disturbance, it says.
Wildlife living in the depths include deep sea sponges and coral gardens, while the vents are home to stalked jellyfish, tube worm “forests” and fish that produce antifreeze.
The area that Norway plans to open up for mining also plays host to 12 species of marine mammals including minke, humpback, fin and blue whales, orcas, narwals, white-beaked dolphins and harp seals.
A vast biomass of phytoplankton is food for key fish species including herring, mackerel and blue whiting – while the area is also important for seabirds, the report says.
The environmental group warns deep seabed mining for minerals will cause direct destruction and damage to the vulnerable habitats in the deep, as well as chemical, light and noise pollution.
Greenpeace is urging Norway, which has faced international criticism including from the EU over its plans, to put them on hold and live up to commitments to manage its seas sustainably by 2025.
And in the UK, Greenpeace is urging the new British Government to be more proactive in pushing its support for a moratorium on deep sea mining on the world stage.
Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle, Greenpeace Nordic campaigner, said: “While Norway claims it’s a respectable nation with responsible policies on ocean management, it’s rolling out the red carpet for deep sea mining companies to deploy machines that will cause irreversible harm to the Arctic’s unique and vulnerable biodiversity.
“Somehow Norway’s words and ocean commitments get forgotten when profit opportunities arise. We cannot let that happen.”
Briony Venn, Greenpeace UK oceans campaign, said: “Deep sea mining is a dangerous industry and we must not be complacent in allowing it to gain a hold on our precious seabed.
“Last year, Labour announced its support for a moratorium on this practice, which was widely welcomed and in line with many other countries’ concerns.
“The Government should now be much more proactive in pushing for this on the world stage.”
In August, scientists onboard a Greenpeace ship conducted a visual-acoustic survey of cetaceans living in the area, including some species such as sperm whales that are globally threatened.
In one of the proposed mining areas near Jan Mayen, the Greenpeace survey identified what seemed to be four different groups of sperm whales, the largest of all toothed whales, which has “vulnerable” status and can dive down to at least 2,000 metres.
Dr Kirsten Young, science lead from Greenpeace Research Laboratories at the University of Exeter, said “remarkably little” was known about how much whales and dolphins relied on healthy ecosystems around sea mounts, which mining would damage, and it would be impossible to assess or control those impacts.
“What is clear is that Norway’s plans not only directly threaten species and habitats on the seabed, but also the wider marine ecosystem, from the tiniest plankton to the great whales,” she warned.
Norway’s state secretary in the energy ministry Astrid Bergmal said: “The global transition to a low-carbon society will require huge amounts of minerals and metals.
“Today, the extraction of minerals is largely concentrated in a small number of countries or companies. This can contribute to a vulnerable supply situation, which is challenging, especially in today’s geopolitical situation.
“It is also of strategic importance that the minerals are extracted in countries with democratic governance.
“This is why we’re now looking into if it is possible to extract seabed minerals in a sustainable and responsible way.”
She said as of now, no exploitation of seabed minerals could be initiated on the Norwegian continental shelf and before any began, it would have to be shown it could take place in a sustainable and responsible manner, with the state and parliament approving any plan.
The first phase would consist of mapping and exploring for minerals, “which has little environmental impact”, to gather more knowledge to be able to consider the way forward, she said.
“Norway has a long experience of responsible and knowledge-based resource management. This management approach will also form the basis for the management of seabed minerals on the Norwegian Continental shelf,” she added.